This section provides information on the variation of character interpretations both pre-Crisis and in iterations since Crisis. Focus is on characters defined by their given name (Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, etc.) rather than code name (Green Lantern, Flash). Emphasis is on interpretations where the character had a major role versus a cameo or non-essential story role to minimize clutter.
The Golden Age Starman
New Earth/Earth-0 - The history between the origin of
the Golden Age Starman is largely similar to that of Earth-2 with some elements
of Earth-22. Unconfirmed aspects of Earth-2 that are major events in the life of
Starman of Earth-0 are the murder of Doris Lee, Starman's mental breakdown in
the 1950's, his affair with Black Canary and the birth of his two sons, David
and Jack.
Following the Crisis on Earth-0, Starman joined JSA when
it entered Limbo to forestall Ragnarok, he joined them (Last Days of the Justice
Society #1). Starman remained in Limbo for three years, during which
time his elder son David took over the mantle of Opal City's Starman (Starman
vol. 1 #26-27). When he returned from Limbo, Ted Knight was less active
as Starman, appearing only infrequently, preferring to spend his time training
David to inherit the Starman mantle.
During Zero Hour, Starman
joined the JSA for its first strike against Extant. Like his comrades,
Starman was aged into his 70s.
He then formally passed on his equipment to David (Zero Hour #3-2).
(The Star-Spangled Kid now Skyman had been slain by members of Injustice, Unlimited while Starman
was in Limbo [Infinity Inc. #51].) Shortly thereafter, the Mist
emerged from retirement and, with his children, proceeded to take his revenge
on Ted Knight. The first act of the Mist's family was to kill David Knight,
on patrol as Starman (Starman vol. 2 #0). They then destroyed the
Knight observatory and captured the elder Knight. Starman's younger son,
Jack, reluctantly assumed the role of Starman and pursued the Mist with
the last remaining version of the Cosmic Rod. The Mist's son was slain
and the Mist himself, extremely aged and fragile, suffered a mental breakdown
(Starman vol. 2 #4). Since that time, Jack Knight has become Opal
City's resident protector while his father devoted himself to the advancement
of his science.
As his son progressed on
the role of Starman, Ted Knight played the role of both mentor and scientist.
His relationship with his son deepened as the younger Knight experienced
the pitfalls and powers that comes from a life of costumed crime-fighting.
As the century wore on, the Mist regained his strength as a result of a
deal with the minor demon Neron and once again struck the Knight family.
Linking his failing heart to a nuclear explosive, the Mist planned to
take the Knights and their beloved city to the grave with him. As he had
so many times before, Ted Knight became the wrench in the Mist's plans,
elevating himself, the Mist and the building containing the warhead into
space. Making a final peace with his enemy, Ted Knight died in the nuclear
explosion that claimed the Mist when the elder villains heart failed (Starman
vol. 2 #72). A memorial service was conducted at the Starman museum
in Opal City shortly thereafter (Starman vol .2 #73).
Jack Knight later gave up the role of Starman to spend time with his new family. Several other individuals have used the code-name Starman including the alien Prince Gayvn, earthman Will Payton and the blue-skinned alien Mikaal Tomas. from Talok III. Currently active on Earth-0 are the Talokian Starman and a temporally/dimensionally displaced Starboy (Thom Kallor) of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Earth-17 - Little is known of the Starman of Earth-17's history. What is known is that, in the apocalyptic future of that world, evolved animals have taken human artifacts to craft identities for themselves and the costume and weaponry are used by an primate Starman. This Starman was killed in the Arena event arranged by Monarch but after the ending of the Final Crisis by use of the Miracle Machine, the existence of this event in canonical history is unlikely to be included (Countdown Arena #1-3).
Earth-21 - The early history of Starman of Earth-21 is similar to that of New Earth/Earth-2 version up until the HUAC hearings of 1951. When most of the JSA accepted the committee's admonishments and disappeared, Starman joined them. His activities after that, if any, are unrecorded (DC: The New Frontier).
Earth-22 - The history of Starman of Earth-22 is
thought to be largely similar to his counterparts on Earth-0 and Earth-2. In the
1950's on Earth-22, Ted Knight was being treated for mental illness when he was
sought out to deal with the threat posed by the Ultra-Humanite. He was quickly
defeated in that battle and later retired. The JSA never reformed and he
remained inactive. In the early part of the 21st century, Thom Kallor traveled
back and time and become lost, temporarily becoming the Starman of Earth-22.
With the nuclear explosion in Kansas, he was blown into the Earth-0 time line
where he assumed the role of Starman as a JSA member (Kingdom Come LS, JSA
#1-present)
Earth-40 - The Ted Knight of Earth-40 is a government scientist working at Chernobyl in post-war Russia. He is code-name the Star and is working to develop new energy theories for weapons manufacture and covert operations. The last recorded mission of the Earth-40 analog to the Justice Society, and The Star 's involvement therein, was the defeat of the Kryptonian warlord Zod, masquerading as operative Clark Kent (JSA: The Unholy Three LS)
